A young Iranian detained following the January 2026 protests has reportedly spent more than six months in prison without a clear trial process, raising renewed concerns about prolonged detention and the treatment of protest detainees in Iran.
Morteza Arab-Khorasani, born in 2000, was arrested by security forces while working at a welding workshop in Shandiz, near Mashhad. According to reports, his family received no clear information about his whereabouts or condition for the first 14 days following his arrest.
More than six months later, his case is reportedly still stalled at the preliminary investigation stage. He has spent much of that period in the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison rather than being transferred to a normal prison ward, while no clear timetable for resolving his legal status has been provided.
Arab-Khorasani is understood to be among a number of young people detained following protests in Shandiz and surrounding areas in January. Reports indicate that bail has been refused in some of these cases, leaving detainees in prolonged uncertainty while their families wait for information about possible charges or court proceedings.
Particularly troubling are reports that some detainees have been pressured to confirm statements made during interrogation. Sources have alleged that prisoners who withdraw earlier statements or refuse to endorse confessions may face threats of being returned to harsh interrogation conditions. These allegations require independent investigation, but if substantiated they would raise profound concerns about the reliability of evidence being used in subsequent proceedings.
No credible information currently establishes that Arab-Khorasani himself has been sentenced to death, and it is important not to overstate his individual legal position. The central issue in his case is the continuing detention of a young man for more than six months without a transparent judicial resolution.
The prohibition of arbitrary detention, access to legal representation and the right to a fair hearing are fundamental protections recognised under international human rights law.
Behind the legal terminology is also a human reality: months spent waiting in prison without knowing when, or even how, a case will be resolved places enormous pressure on detainees and their families.
Iranian authorities must clarify Arab-Khorasani’s legal status, ensure access to an independent lawyer and either provide a fair and transparent judicial process without further delay or release him.